New NHS dentists in Waterlooville

Hampshire Primary Care Trusts (PCT) programme of increasing NHS dental care available to Hampshire residents is progressing well with a new NHS dental practice opening in Waterlooville on February 11, 2009. Local people can start to register for a place with the practice, which is able to take on over 10,000 new patients over the next few months.

“We are very excited that this new practice is opening and we are able to offer more NHS dental care to local residents,” said Julia Bagshaw, associate director for primary care commissioning for Hampshire PCT.

“We have decided to release the vacancies in batches so we can avoid people having to wait six months or more for their initial assessment and wondering if they are on the list or not. It also means the dental practice will have the most up-to-date contact information for those registering.”

Mrs Bagshaw urged local people not to turn up at the dental practice without an appointment. “The practice will not be able to accept patients who go directly to them, either in person or on the phone. Everyone must phone the dedicated telephone number and please don’t worry if you can’t register straight away as there will be places available over the next few months” she continued.

Registration is simple. You just need to call the Dental Helpline on 0845 050 8345, Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 4.30pm. Callers will be asked for their contact details and the name of their GP practice. These will then be passed onto the dental practice and an appointment for an initial examination and registration arranged in due course. Anyone who needs emergency treatment whilst waiting to register should call the Dental Helpline on 0845 050 8345 as usual.